Southland rugby player Hoani Macdonald has been released from hospital, seven days after collapsing on the field due to cardiac arrest.

After a successful operation to implant an ICD (Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator) on Friday at Auckland Hospital, Macdonald was released on yesterday afternoon, Rugby Southland confirmed in a statement.

The Stags loose forward, who also played for the Junior All Blacks, New Zealand Maori and Highlanders, was initially being treated at Middlemore Hospital, where he was put in an induced coma, but was moved for to Auckland for the operation.

Macdonald and his family will stay in Auckland in the near-future to remain close to medical support as he continues his recovery. The family have asked for continued privacy.

Macdonald collapsed in the first half of Southland's NPC Championship semifinal against Counties Manukau in Pukekohe eight days ago. He initially got back to his feet before collapsing again. He received CPR from St John's Ambulance staff at the ground, before being taken to Middlemore, where he was put in an induced coma. He came out of the coma late Sunday night.